My Health security to be tightened: Hunt

Privacy provisions for My Health Record will be strengthened so that a court order is needed for information to be released without consent.

Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the changes on Tuesday night and comes after talks with the Australian Medical Association and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

The My Health Record Act will be brought into line with the existing Australian Digital Health Agency policy.

“This policy requires a court order to release any My Health Record information without consent,” Mr Hunt said in a statement.

“The amendment will ensure no record can be released to police or government agencies, for any purpose, without a court order.”

Mr Hunt said no documents have been released in more than six years under the Agency’s policy and no documents will be released without a court order.

“This change to the My Health Record Act will therefore remove any ambiguity on this matter,” he said.

“In addition, the government will also amend Labor’s 2012 legislation to ensure if someone wishes to cancel their record they will be able to do so permanently, with their record deleted from the system.”

The changes will be made “as soon as possible”.

Mr Hunt said the government will continue to advocate to the public about the benefits of the digital health record system.

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